Imaging Plays Key Role in Evaluating Injuries at Olympics

The Olympic Games give elite athletes a chance at athletic triumph, but also carry a risk of injury. When injuries occur, it is critical that they be evaluated quickly. Onsite imaging services play an important role in the management of Olympic athletes with sports-related injuries and disorders, according to a new study in Radiology.

Researchers reviewed the use of radiography, ultrasound (US) and MRI during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics. The 2016 games drew more than 11,000 athletes from 206 different countries. During the games, a total of 1,015 radiologic examinations were performed on participating athletes.

“The Olympic Summer Games are considered the most important sporting event worldwide. Competing athletes are at the peak of their careers and have trained and practiced for years to be able to participate in the games at a high level,” said lead author Ali Guermazi, MD, PhD. “Unfortunately, these elite athletes are at risk for injury, and the medical teams onsite will do anything to ensure a fast return to competition or initiate the next appropriate measures in light of more severe injuries.”

Dr. Guermazi, professor and vice chair in the department of radiology at Boston University School of Medicine and musculoskeletal radiologist at Boston Medical Center, and colleagues set out to describe the occurrence of imaging-depicted sports-related stress injuries, fractures and muscle and tendon disorders and to document the usage of imaging with x-ray, US and MRI.

The researchers collected and analyzed data from the imaging exams. These data were categorized according to gender, age, participating country, type of sport and body part.

The results showed that 1,101 injuries occurred in 718 of the 11,274 athletes. Of the 1,015 imaging exams performed, 304 (30 percent) were x-ray, 104 (10.2 percent) were US and 607 (59.8 percent) were MRI. Overall, imaging was used to help diagnose sports-related injuries in 6.4 percent of athletes competing in the Olympic Games.

Data May Aid Imaging at Future Sports Events

Athletes from Europe underwent the most exams with 103 x-rays, 39 ultrasounds and 254 MRIs, but – excluding 10 athletes categorized as refugees – athletes from Africa had the highest utilization rate (14.8 percent).

Among the sports, gymnastics (artistic) had the highest percentage of athletes who utilized imaging (15.5 percent), followed by Taekwondo (14.2 percent) and beach volleyball (13.5 percent). Athletics (track and field) had the most examinations (293, including 53 x-rays, 50 US and 190 MRIs).

“In some sports, like beach volleyball or Taekwondo, the high utilization rate was somewhat unexpected,” Dr. Guermazi said. “These numbers may help in planning imaging services for future events and will also help in analyzing further why some sports are at higher risk for injury and how these injuries can possibly be prevented.”

The lower limb was the most common location of imaging-depicted sports-related injuries overall, and imaging of lower extremities was the most common exam. The second most common location was the upper limb.

Among muscle injuries, 83.9 percent affected muscles from the lower extremities. The sports most prone to muscle injuries were athletics, soccer (football) and weightlifting. Athletics also accounted for 34.6 percent of all tendon injuries.

Eighty-four percent of stress injuries were seen in the lower extremities. Stress injuries were most commonly seen in athletics, volleyball, artistic gymnastics and fencing. Fractures were most commonly found in athletics, hockey and cycling. Nearly half were upper extremity fractures.

“Imaging continues to be crucial for establishing fast and relevant diagnoses that help in medical decision making during these events,” Dr. Guermazi said. “Anticipated absence from competition or training is often based on imaging finding, and in cases of severe injury, imaging can help further determine the best therapeutic approach.”